Cohort study of pancreatic cystic neoplasm risk among individuals with diabetes in South Korea

While most pancreatic cysts exhibit an indolent clinical course, a subset of pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCNs) have malignant potential. A cohort study in South Korea evaluated the association of diabetes with the risk of developing PCNs. The study included 3,856,676 adults who underwent health examinations in 2009, with follow-up until the end of 2020. Among these participants, 8.6% had diabetes. During a median observation period of 10.3 years (IQR 10.1-10.6), 0.8% of participants developed PCNs. After adjustment for major confounding factors, longer diabetes duration (≥ 5 years) was associated with an increased risk of developing PCNs.This risk was particularly elevated in individuals aged younger than 60 years with diabetes, males with diabetes, and current smokers with diabetes. The authors conclude that these findings suggest that diabetes may be a factor in the development of PCNs.